Order of Malta history was made this year, as the Companions of Kenya, led by their Chairman, Sam
Mattock and with the invaluable support of the Companions of Kenya Hospitaller, Nathalie made the
annual Order of Malta pilgrimage to Lourdes from 5-11 May.

Thanks to the President of the British Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (BASMOM)
Celestrine Hales, who gave her blessing to have the Kenyan pilgrims attached to the BASMOM pilgrimage.
Wonderful weather greeted the pilgrims, there were 8 Kenyan Pilgrims, namely Sam Mattock, Wayne
Hennessy-Barrett, Alison Ngibuini, Dr Babu Owuonda, Sister Bernadette Ndegwa, Daphne Fagan, Shaun
Leavy, Ester Asega and Helen Mordaunt. Nathalie attended with the Dutch contingent, with whom she
has been on countless pilgrimages but we hope next year she will join her beloved Kenyans.

Esther’s joy, appreciation and courage were an inspiration to us all for the whole pilgrimage. And as a divine
reward, shortly after returning home to Kisumu, she was selected for the Kenyan National Para-Volleyball
Team! She said that the Lourdes experience gave her the confidence to do more in life.

Picture 1:

L to R: Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Dr Babu Owuonda, Nathalie, Sister Bernadette Ndegwa, Michael Grace, Helen Mordaunt, Esther Asega, Alison Ngibuini, Daphne Fagan, Sam Mattock, Dr Christine Furness

Picture 2:

L to R: Alison Ngibuini, Prince and Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap, Sister Bernadette and Dr Babu