“The Almighty has done great thing for us and holy is His name and His faithful love extends age after age to those who fear Him” (Lk. 1: 49-50). I have a strong feeling that the appropriate way to begin a brief life history of Rt. Rev. Dr. M. U. Eneja, a person who is humility personified, Christ centered, lover of Blessed Virgin Mary and has the Scripture at his fingertips, is to sing my Magnificat.

My first encounter with my Lord, Bishop M.U. Eneja, was at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu when he was still a Monsignor. He welcomed me graciously and his unassuming and calm disposition allayed my anxiety. Our discussions then were both inspiring and enriching o me and he not only gave me fathe5ly and spiritual advice but also a holy picture of our Lady which I have held so dearly since then.

A couple of years after my visit, he was installed the Bishop of Enugu Diocese. As a student nurse I still continued to visit him during my holidays. My visit usually earned me spiritual enrichment which he willingly gave in all humility. Sometimes, he gave me some Rosaries for myself and others who might visit me during my holiday at home. His hospitality and his willingness to assist in any pastoral and spiritual matters encouraged me to visit him whenever I was able to do so. His captivating and thought provoking sermons and scripture quotations were very challenging to me.

Although I established a formal relationship with him, least did I dream that I would in future be in the position of rendering nursing care to him. Moreover, even with that little acquaintance I still accepted this new and rare apostolate in his present condition with fear and trembling because of his high spirituality and my unworthiness, since it is different from what I was used to.

As time went on, his openness to me, his humility, respect and obedience to those who assist him on health matters not only challenged and encouraged me but helped in the proper diagnosis and effective management of any sickness he suffered. All his challenging and enriching qualities are worthy of emulation. Honestly speaking, I have learnt a lot from my Lord Bishop from my first encounter with him till date.

He has such a high spirituality and is so prayerful that he believes and leaves out his prayer life according to his Motto which is “May God’s will be done”. He is detached from things of this world and he is really not of this world. He is poor in spirit and mortified. He knew every page of the scripture of by heart and made use of it at will. Even in his present condition, he is still alert in spiritual and pastoral matters. His silence and solitude give a feeling of God’s presence. His Holiness and gentility are so transparent and magnetic in such a way that you cannot pass him without spontaneously turning to him in admiration.

Though he is highly spiritual he is also human. He respects the dignity of human persons and has equal treatment for everybody both male and female. He is compassionate, generous and very grateful for things done for him and apologies for anything he thinks he has done wrong. He is so caring that he anticipates the needs of others and attends to them. Among his pastoral duties is visiting the sick and the bereaved which he does with passion. I was dumbfounded with surprises when he visited me while I was sick – irrespective of the fact that the ward where I was hospitalized was located at the topmost floor of the hospital that had three floors.

He is a visionary and focused. He likes things to be planned and discussed before implementation as he usually says “Akpakwara ihea Akpa” “Kedu mgbe anyi kpara ya”. His obedience to authority is intimidating. He is honest and childlike in speech and action – a comportment of his which can overwhelm the listener and fill her with wonder and awe. He endures pains and other things as if nothing has happened to him. He minds his business unless his attention is sought for on an issue. His habit of refraining from complaints makes it difficult for one to know when he is in pains or what his personal needs are.

With his total submission to the will of God which is his motto and his dedication to his medication and medical advice, God has sustained him to this date. I thank God for the gift of Bishop M.U. Eneja to the church and the entire humanity. I will ever be grateful to God for the opportunity I have had to be near him and nurse him, a holy Bishop and my father in faith. My deliberate contacts with him have spiritually enriched me from my childhood till date.

I pray God to grant him a healthy mind and body now and always. I reiterate that Rt. Rev. Dr. M.U. Eneja is a perfectly dauntless soldier of Christ, an authentic Priest, and exemplary Bishop and a Holy man with a heart of gold.