The Catholic community of the Panther Valley will have a new pastor on June 17.

The Rev. Robert J. George, a popular priest who shepherded St. Joseph Parish for the past four years, is one of several priests who have been reassigned duties by the Most Rev. Alfred Schlert, bishop of the Diocese of Allentown.

“Father Bob,” as he is affectionately known throughout Summit Hill, Lansford, Nesquehoning and Coaldale, has been asked by the bishop to take over duties at St. Columbkill Parish in Boyertown, Berks County.

The personable priest has also served as chaplain at Marian Catholic High School, Hometown, where he had been a steady presence among students, faculty, administration and friends.

The Rev. Eric J. Gruber, a native of Palmerton, will take over as pastor of the Panther Valley parish from his current duties at St. John Fisher Parish, Catasauqua.

The Rev. Robert T. Finlan, pastor of St. Richard Parish, Barnesville, and Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, who has also been a frequent presence at Marian, will assume Father Bob’s chaplaincy duties there.

In announcements made over the weekend, Bishop Schlert made numerous new assignments. A diocesan press release states every year the bishop “works with the Priest Personnel Board to make decisions on new assignments. The board is an advisory body made up of experienced priests who are representative of the diocese and its many regions and ministries.”

The diocese said, “New assignments are designed to meet the needs of the faithful in the diocese’s 78 parishes, as well as fulfilling pastoral needs at college campuses, at hospitals, at diocesan high schools, and at prisons and nursing homes. Priests can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including openings due to retirements, professional development of priests, requests from clergy members, and the need for a specific skill or talent that is a good match for a certain ministry.”

Some of the other new assignments with local ties include:

The Rev. John A. Frink, formerly of the Tamaqua parishes, from parochial administrator to pastor at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Robesonia.

The Rev. Msgr. John B. McCann, a Nesquehoning native, from pastor, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Douglassville, to pastor, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Bethlehem.

The Rev. Philip F. Rodgers, a Jim Thorpe native, from pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville, to pastor, St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.

The Rev. Adam C. Sedar, pastor, St. Nicholas Parish, Walnutport, to pastor, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Douglassville.

The Rev. John A. Hutta, a native of Coaldale, from parochial vicar to parochial administrator, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown.

The Rev. Abraham Ha, from parochial vicar, St. Ann Parish, Emmaus, to parochial administrator, St. Nicholas Parish, Walnutport.