Forty-six Catholic priests across Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties are about to face a challenge no seminary prepared them for: cooking on camera.

“Cooks with Collars,” the Diocese of Allentown’s online priest cooking competition, returns for its sixth year on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and runs through Sept. 30.

Short videos of priests preparing their favorite dishes — in rectory kitchens, backyards and, occasionally, alongside the parishioners and pets who wander into the frame — will be posted at www.CookswithCollars.com. Local priests participating in this year’s event includes the Revs. Michael Mullins of Sacred Heart in Palmerton, Eric Arnout of Assumption BVM in Slatington, Abraham Ha at St. Nicholas in Walnutport and Thomas Osei Gyau at St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley in Summit Hill,

Viewers “vote” for their favorite by making a tax-deductible donation. Every voting dollar goes directly to that priest’s parish or ministry.

The competition raised more than $210,000 for local parishes last year alone, and its six-year total is expected to approach $1 million this September. It began in 2021, when pandemic restrictions forced churches to find new ways to connect with people at home.It has since drawn donors from across the country and news coverage from local television and newspapers to national outlets.

Last year’s Top Fundraising Chef was Monsignor Tom Baddick of Notre Dame of Bethlehem, whose gourmet chili hot dogs brought in $44,485 toward replacing his church’s crumbling front steps — a $100,000 project the parish nicknamed “Stairway to Heaven.”

“I’ve been a priest a long time, and I’ve never had a homily pull in thousands of views,” Baddick said. “Chili dogs, apparently, are a different story. Our steps were falling apart and our people answered. That’s the part I’ll remember.”

The dishes range widely. In last year’s competition, the Rev. Simon Kimaryo of St. Ann Parish in Emmaus cooked Fufu Ugali, a Tanzanian dish he learned in his home village, while his then-pastor, Monsignor Edward Coyle, stuck with a hot dog and mustard.

Priests will compete this year in several categories: Top Chef, for the most dollars raised; Most Popular Chef, for the most-viewed video; and Top Deanery Chef, for the leading fundraiser in each of the diocese’s five regional groupings of parishes, one for each county.

New this year is the Commemorative 65th Anniversary Award, marking the Diocese of Allentown’s 65th year. It will go to the priest whose video attracts the most individual $65 donations.

Parishes have used past winnings for building repairs, roof and step replacements, youth programs, community outreach and, in one case, to establish a permanent parish endowment fund.

“This is not a gala. There’s no ticket, no tuxedo and no minimum,” said Michele Mullikin, executive director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Allentown. “Someone can give five dollars from their couch in Schuylkill County or from their kitchen in Arizona, and it lands in the same place — back at the parish.”

“Everyone loves food, and there’s something very human about gathering in the kitchen and sharing a meal,” said Bishop Alfred Schlert. “ ‘Cooks with Collars’ gives people a chance to see our priests in a different way — cooking, laughing and sharing a little bit of who they are. And it has a wonderful purpose: the money raised supports important ministries in our parishes. I hope people will enjoy the videos, try some of the recipes, get to know our priests a little better, and join us in supporting the people and ministries we are called to serve.”

Videos can be viewed and searched by parish or priest at www.CookswithCollars.com beginning Sept. 1. Winners will be announced in early October.