The patron saint of the Order of Malta, St. John the Baptist, was celebrated by our Embassy on 24th June 2025 with a Mass in St. Catherine of Siena, Catholic Church, Kitisuru, Nairobi. It was an occasion to remind us of the Order’s focus on serving the vulnerable and prioritizing the needs of others over personal gain and on how the spiritual role of St. John the Baptist’s life, marked by humility and service, impacted on the Order’s commitment to serving the Lord’s poor and sick.
The Eucharistic celebration was officiated by the Most Reverend Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi and concelebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and Fr. Cleophas Tesha OP, Parish Priest of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church which is under the stewardship of the Dominican Order.
In his sermon, the Apostolic Nuncio underscored that as an Order “we aspire not to worldly honours so much as aristocracy of spirit: to righteousness and virtue, to reverence for God and zeal in promoting the faith, to magnanimity and magnificence, humility and courtesy, above all to heroism, self-sacrifice and service beyond the call of duty”. Recounting the life story of the Order’s patron the Apostolic Nuncio recalled what Zechariah sung to his son to do, namely “to go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him, to make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, to show them the tender compassion of our God, to give them light in their darkness, and to guide their feet into the way of peace!”. He ended his sermon with these words “May the Order be that light in darkness, a company of a new Christian chivalry, poor in spirit but rich in works of mercy, a sign of tender compassion, a beacon of hope, and a light in the darkness of our world”.
In attendance at the Mass were several members of the Diplomatic Corps, Companions of the Order and other invited guests. The Embassy was represented by H.E. Ambassador Wilhelm von Trott zu Solz and his team.
In line with the Embassy’s tradition on the occasion of the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, this year 180 children were invited to attend Mass from the Napenda Kuishi Rehabilitaion Programme Trust (under the aegis of the Daniel Comboni order), the Kariobangi choir from the same Trust and St. Martin’s Primary School run by the Assumption Sisters in the informal sector of Kibagare. The children joined in the Mass joyfully with their songs that had an emotional impact on the congregation.
Following Mass the children received a gift consisting of a food parcel containing beans, biscuits, chocolate, vegetable oil, maize meal, home baking flour, milk, rice, salt, sugar, tea and soap. The invited guests were kind enough to join the Embassy team in handing out the much appreciated food parcels to the needy children. It is always very moving to witness the joy and gratitude with which the children accept such a gift which for a few days will make a difference in their lives reminding us of how much more frequent assistance and support they, and so many more other children and families all over the world, are in need of.
To reciprocate the kindness and generosity of all those who interact with our Embassy throughout the year, the Embassy held an evening Reception at the Muthaiga Country Club which brought together more than 110 invited guests from the Kenyan Government authorities, Diplomatic Corps, International Organizations, NGOs and friends of the Order.
As tradition would have it, the Ambassador addressed the gathering thanking all for their presence reflecting the enduring friendship and partnership with the Order of Malta in Kenya. He underscored how St. John the Baptist “became a voice of conscience in the wilderness, reminding rulers and people alike that leadership is not measured by dominion, but by service to justice, righteousness and the common good. In today’s world, marked by conflict, displacement, economic uncertainty and growing polarization, the legacy of St. John is more relevant than ever”. The Ambassador concluded in exhorting all to be inspired by the courage and clarity of the Order’s Patron Saint and “to lead with integrity, to serve with compassion and remain true to the values that transcend borders and time.”
The Embassy was privileged to host its Guest of Honour, Dr. Rosemary Anyona, Deputy Director of the European Desk of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. Dr. Anyona spoke of the cordial ties between the Government of Kenya and the Order of Malta and expressed gratitude and appreciation for the good work that is implemented by our Embassy under the umbrella of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the two entities in mid -September 2011. This agreement facilitates collaboration in social, humanitarian, and health cooperation between the two entities.
The Ambassador and Dr. Rosemary Anyona raised their glass to the health of H.E. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces and to His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap. All present partook in this symbolic gesture of goodwill and good wishes.
