October 7, 2026 — Honoring Claretian Associates and Fr. Mark Brummel
For 35 years, Claretian Associates has been part of the fabric of Chicago’s South Side, supporting programs and initiatives that help individuals, families and communities thrive.
As Claretian Associates celebrates this milestone, we also celebrate the Claretians who have helped shape its mission and the countless people whose lives have been touched along the way. One of those Claretians is Fr. Mark Brummel, CMF, whose connection to the South Side community reaches back even further than Claretian Associates itself.
Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Fr. Mark about his years of ministry in the South Side and the lessons he has carried with him throughout his service.
Reflecting on his experience, Fr. Mark emphasized the lasting impact that strong community institutions can have. During his ministry, he served and supported communities connected to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Villa Guadalupe and Claretian Associates.
“Over the years I had served on the Board of Our Lady of Guadalupe School and realized how educating children enhanced the Church and community very much.” Fr. Mark shared, “Villa Guadalupe has served senior citizens for over 35 years and is a real asset to the community.”
His reflections speak to something that has remained at the heart of Claretian ministry: lasting change happens when people come together to strengthen their own communities.
Fr. Mark reflected on this lesson from his years of ministry:
“In my ministry experience, I learned that in a community, whatever the difficulties faced, there is always power within the community to make a difference and bring about desired goals serving the common good. Local residents, Community groups, churches and public officials, all must play a part. “
That belief in the power of community continues to guide the work supported by Claretian Community Impact (CCI).
Continuing Fr. Mark’s Legacy Through the Hope Fund
Fr. Mark’s commitment to the South Side lives on through the Fr. Mark Brummel Legacy of Hope Fund, which supports programs that reflect the values, people and communities at the heart of his ministry.
One of those programs is Villa Guadalupe, a senior community connected to Claretian Associates. For more than 35 years, Villa Guadalupe has provided a place where older adults can live, build relationships and remain connected to their community.
Today, Villa Guadalupe is is undergoing renovations that will help ensure it can continue serving seniors for years to come.
Supporting the Legacy of Hope Fund is one way to carry forward the kind of community-centered ministry Fr. Mark described. It is an opportunity to invest in places like Villa Guadalupe and in the people who call them home.
As we congratulate Claretian Associates on 35 years of service to Chicago’s South Side, we also celebrate the vision shared by so many Claretians, community leaders, residents and partners who have helped make that work possible.
Thirty-five years is more than a milestone, it is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together to serve the common good.
Through the Fr. Mark Brummel Legacy of Hope Fund, that spirit of service, community and hope continue.
