OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) - The Diocese of Ogdensburg is advising foreign-born priests not to leave the country. It comes after one of its priests was barred from re-entering the United States, despite his legal status here.

Father John Ojuok is a parochial vicar at St. Peter’s, St. Mary’s, and St. Hedwig’s churches in Lewis County.

The parish community calls his presence a wellspring of hope and faith, but one of his most cherished phrases, “I’m happy to see your smiling face,” hasn’t been spoken to parishioners in months.

That’s because Father Ojuok is stuck in Nairobi, Kenya, his home country.

“He took enough medicine with him and clothes so that he could be there for three weeks, and he was supposed to be home September 11,” said Father Christopher Carrara, Episcopal Vicar for Cl

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