Bishop Michael exhausted his strength and spent his vigour in the works of the master, Jesus the Lord. As days went by, during his retirement days at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Independence Layout Enugu, his physical strength continued failing him as a result of old age, but his faith and perseverance remained unimaginably strong. During his last days at is retirement home, though he was not easily taken ill, his health became a thing of concern for the diocese and all those around him.

Whenever he needed any medical attention, he was taken to Niger Foundation Specialist hospital Enugu, where he would consult his personal doctor, Professor Neri G.A. Piccado; Late Prof. Aloy Aghaji, who died shortly after bishop’s death, was always there for routine checkups on the bishop. Rev. Sr. Ndidi Ezeh served as a health personal nurse to the bishop.

Also, with his advancement in age, his power of eloquence began waning as it took him longer times to talk, as he was also less audible in speech. His stature was also affected and he became stooped as he was equally retarded in movement. In spite of these impediments that are associated with old age, his sight was fairly good and his senses made his old age graceful, as he could communicate in an articulate and sound manner.

During those days, he kept to his usual routine programmes, for then, he still rose daily at 4:30am, and at 5:00am he would be already seated in his private chapel, meditating. Meditation was followed by the Holy Mass that was usually celebrated by Very Rev. Monsignor Anthony Anijielo on weekdays, On Sundays; His Lordship would concelebrate in the public mass by 7:00am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Independence Layout Enugu. On weekdays, after Mass, Bishop Eneja would always walk round the corridor of his retirement home, an exercise to keep fit.

Between 7am and 8am, he took his breakfast after which he retired to his apartment, where the walls were plain and unadorned and only his bed, a cushioned but wooden chair, a table and a reading chair were all he had. He had no outing (mufti) wear apart from his white soutanes. In his room, he spent time reading and reflecting, without failing to read daily some passages of scripture and the Imitation of Christ by St. Thomas a Kempis.

His lunch and dinner were always a community celebration as he would enjoy them in the company of visiting bishops, Monsignor Anijielo, priests and the seminarians working with him. Such was one of the privileges I enjoyed while with him, that is, enjoying the booty from and on the bishop’s table. Once every month, members of each zone that make up the Holy Trinity Parish Independence Layout, would come always for lunch, to eat and dine with him.

Bishop Eneja had no television in his personal apartment. He had only the books in his library, a centre wooden table and few seats in his parlour. He occasionally listened to BBC news with the “world receiver” radio bought for him by Monsignor Anthony Anijielo. He always said his compline (Night prayer) with those who are with him and he retired daily at 10pm.

Such remained the regulated system of life of Bishop Eneja till the November 1st (Solemnity of All Saints) 2008, when he was taken to and admitted at Niger Foundation Specialist Hospital for ailment connected with old age. “All who visited him at the sick bed in hospital could testify to how even on his sickbed, he continued with supplications for his people and our land, praying for and witnessing even in his bodily sufferings and mortifications to Christ the eternal high priest”.

While he lasted at Niger Foundation, the hospital became a very busy place because people in their numbers trooped in and out to visit him on his sick bed: Many expectantly believed he would later make it back to his retirement home, while some feared that the time of his departure from this mundane world was fast ticking.

Amidst these feelings, the die was cast on that fateful Friday of 14th November 2008, when the then incumbent but now the emeritus bishop of Enugu, Most rev. Dr. A.O. Gbuji was meeting at the bishop’s court at Igboeze Street Independence Layout Enugu, just a few poles away from Niger Foundation Specialist Hospital, with the entire diocesan Clergy, religious and lay people of Enugu diocese. The news of all news came in as far as the Catholic Diocese of Enugu was then concerned. BISHOP MICHAEL ENEJA WAS DEAD. He died at 1.57pm. Immediately, the then bishop Most Rev. Dr. A.O. Gbuji wasted no time in making the heavy blow public, and that brought the meeting to a sudden ad abrupt end.

Right away, all roads led to Niger Foundation Hospital where his remains were; there were mixed feelings of joy that a saint was gone, to intercede before God’s throne for his people, and of grief that the precious jewel, a loving father and a generation was gone. The mood of the people was of tears, praises and sympathies.

Like a wild hurricane, the news spread across the glove as many, both Catholic and non-Catholic, young and old, men and women, rich and poor, people of different nationalities and colours, began pouring encomiums on this saintly Bishop, Michael Eneja, Telephone calls poured in from different parts of the country and other parts of Africa, from Europe, America, and the furtherest ends of the earth.

By evening of that fateful day, his lifeless body was carefully wrapped and put into the hospital ambulance. Straight on, the then Bishop A.O. Gbuji, in company of Msgr. Anthony Anijielo who was in the ambulance carrying the remains of bishop Eneja and over two hundred priests and countless number of people, in a convoy, accompanied the body of Bishop Michael Eneja to Annunciation Specialist Hospital Mortuary at Emene Enugu.

There, prayers were offered and lately in the evening, “all went sorrowfully away”. As a mark of honour, solidarity and love, one week of mourning was declared in Enugu, Nsukka and Awgu dioceses, as masses were daily celebrated for his peaceful repose.

At Holy Trinity Parish Independence Layout, a condolence register was opened before his painted portrait, and standing beside it was a paschal candle, and people there poured out their emotions for this great Prince of the Church that sacrificed his all for the good of humanity.