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Religion

Eugene

(66,586 posts) Wed Nov 12, 2025, 02:05 PM 11 hrs ago

2

(Ogdensburg, NY) North Country priest denied re-entry into U.S.; diocese telling others to stay put

Source: WWNY-TV - Watertown, NY

North Country priest denied re-entry into U.S.; diocese telling others to stay put

By Lexi Bruening
Published: Nov. 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM EST

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.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/11/05/north-country-priest-denied-reentry-into-us-diocese-telling-others-stay-put/

2 replies

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(Ogdensburg, NY) North Country priest denied re-entry into U.S.; diocese telling others to stay put (Original Post) Eugene 11 hrs ago OP

I naively thought; Why would they not allow a priest back in the country? CanonRay 10 hrs ago #1

my priest is columbian, here legally of course. rampartd 10 hrs ago #2

CanonRay

(15,792 posts)

1. I naively thought; Why would they not allow a priest back in the country?

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 02:15 PM

10 hrs ago

Then I saw his skin color.....

rampartd

(2,956 posts)

2. my priest is columbian, here legally of course.

Reply to CanonRay (Reply #1)

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 02:20 PM

10 hrs ago

but i worry about him all the time.

skin color for now, but catholics are only a little further down the "nativist" hit list.

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