In recognition of their commitment to serving the needs of the less fortunate, a member of clergy and member of the community will each be honored during the 19th annual Flame of Charity Dinner.

Msgr. Richard A. Behl, director of the diocesan Office of Missions and chairman of the Commission for Pro-Life Action, and Mary Higgins Clark, a best-selling author, will receive their awards during a special presentation Oct. 23 in the New Brunswick Hyatt.

The Flame of Charity Foundation hosts a dinner each year to raise money to support Catholic Charities. Proceeds from last year’s dinner amounted to more than $400,000.

Dedicated to the support of Catholic Charities throughout the diocese, the foundation is a partnership based on love for those in need, regardless of their race, color or creed, and an effort to serve them in justice and compassion.

Msgr. Behl, who also serves as rector of St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral Parish, Metuchen, is being honored as Community Servant of the Year. He was born June 5, 1941, to the late Howard R. and Mae Homall Behl and was raised in Middlesex — attending St. Joseph School, Bound Brook, as well as St. Peter High School, New Brunswick. Msgr. Behl earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, and conducted his theological studies at Gregorian University, Rome. He also holds a doctorate in ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Msgr. Behl was ordained Dec. 17, 1966, in St. Peter Basilica, Rome, by Bishop Francis Reh, then rector of the North American College. He received the title of chaplain to His Holiness in 1977 and prelate of honor 1991.

His first assignments were in the Trenton Diocese where he served as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish, South Amboy, St. James Parish, Red Bank, and Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

In 1972, he was named diocesan director for Trenton’s Society for the Propagation for the Faith and Holy Childhood Association and served as a member of the National Advisory Board. In 1977, he was assigned the pastorate of Our Lady of the Mount Parish, Warren, and later to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville.

Msgr. Behl has served as vicar for Charities and Social Ministry and chairman of the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities. He has also served on the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Planning commission, the Diocesan Seminary Board, and the Advisory Committee to the New Jersey Catholic Conference.

Known as the "Queen of Suspense," Clark has sold more than 70 million copies of her books in the United States alone. She will receive the Humanitarian of the Year award at the Flame of Charity Dinner.

Active in many Catholic programs and organizations, Clark was named a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a papal honor. She is also a Dame of Malta and a Lady of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. She received the Catholic Big Sisters Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and the Graymoor Award from the Franciscan Friars in 1999.

Among Clark’s other honors and awards are the Gold Medal of Honor from the American-Irish Historical Society (1993), the National Arts Club’s first Gold Medal in Education (1994), the Horatio Alger Award (1997), the Outstanding Mother of the Year Award (1998), the 2001 Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Passionists’ Ethics in Literature Award (2002).

Clark is an active advocate and participant in literacy programs. Her latest book, The Second Time Around was published in April, 2003. Clark is married to John Conheeney, the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill-Lynch Futures.

Cost per dinner ticket is $200. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, call Dawn Kuenze at (732) 562-1990, ext. 1600 or send an e-mail to flameofcharity@diometuchen.org.