Port Authority chairman; pastor to be honored at Diocese’s 25th Annual Flame of Charity dinner

 Anthony R. Coscia will be honored as the Humanitarian of the Year, and Father Robert W. Medley will receive the Community Servant Award at the Diocese of Metuchen’s 25th annual Flame of Charity Dinner on October 22 at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick.

Coscia is chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Father Medley is pastor of Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro, and diocesan executive director of the Department of Worship and Liturgical Formation.

Originally named the Business and Industry Dinner, today the Flame of Charity Dinner is the premier fundraising event for the Flame of Charity Foundation. Proceeds from the event support the work of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen. Revenue from last year’s dinner totaled $337,780 and in 2008 helped Catholic Charities serve over 61,000 people through more than 120 programs. 

Appointed chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority in April 2003, Coscia said his principal aims include ensuring the safety and security of the Port Authority’s facilities, improving the critical transportation networks between New York and New Jersey, rebuilding the World Trade Center as a driving force for the region’s economic recovery and establishing a memorial to those lost in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Coscia is also a partner and Executive Committee member of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, one of the New York region's oldest law firms.  From February 1992 to March 2003, Coscia served as Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, one of the largest state-sponsored development banks in the United States.
 A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Cocia received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Coscia serves as a trustee of the New Jersey Network Foundation and New Jersey Community Development Corporation and is a member of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Council of Trustees, The Partnership for New York City and The Economic Club of New York.

Father Medley was named pastor of Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro in July 2002. Following his appointment, the parish community celebrated its 25th anniversary.

As part of their celebration, the parish, led by Father Medley, partnered with Habitat for Humanity. Over 300 volunteer parishioners designed, built, and paid for a house and all in the parish, of over 1000 families, prayerfully supported the endeavor.

Father Medley and his parishioners then began a partnership with the Catholic Charities Solidarity Team and traveled to the Diocese of Santa Rosa, in June 2008 and again in February 2009. Over the past year, the parish has developed an ongoing friendship with the people of the parish of Santa Cruz, Chiquimulilla, growing in faith and fellowship.

In addition to his work with Queenship of Mary Parish, Father Medley has served the deaf community, ministering with them for 11 years. Father Medley also founded and chaired the Diocesan Commission for Ministry with People with Disabilities, served as an administrative assistant and master of ceremonies for Bishop-Emeritus Edward T. Hughes, served as the first full-time director of vocations, served on the secretariat that guided the First Diocesan Synod, served as vice chancellor and as executive director of the Department of Formation and Leadership.

Father Medley completed his undergraduate studies in business administration at the University of Notre Dame, Ind., and obtained his Master of Divinity Degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange. He was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 1990. Father Medley served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield; Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville; and St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen.

This year’s Flame of Charity Dinner is being co-chaired by Susan A. Feeney and Barry J. Wiegmann.

Other committee members include: Marc Bognar, William R. Chess, Michael R. Cioffi, Very Rev. Sylvester J. Cronin, Deacon Samuel J. Damiano, Richard P. Diegnan, Deacon Anthony J. Gostkowski, John A. Hila, Esq., John A. Hoffman, Esq., John J. Hogan, Bruce P. Kerzic, John Kuchinski, John G. Nolan, Jr., John A. Papa, Alphonse Rispoli, David J. Samuel, Paul J. St. Onge, Esq.  and Stephen M. Vajtay, Jr., Esq.

The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $200. For ad journal, underwriting or ticket information call (732) 562-2438, or e-mail flameofcharity09@diometuchen.org.