The Fraternal Companionship of St. Titus Brandsma O.Carm.

Abstract

By means of his motu proprio, Apostolica Sollicitudo, Pope St Paul VI officially instituted the Synod of Bishops on 15 September, 1965, and, in his opening discourse for the last session of the Second Vatican Council, the previous day, he described the Synod of Bishops as the means by which the Pope’s ongoing ‘consultation and collaboration’ with the worldwide episcopate was to be facilitated.1 The Synods of Bishop that had taken place since Vatican II have played an important role in ensuring that there is a public forum for ongoing consultation and collaboration among those who share in the episcopal ministry and the next Synod of Bishops, on the theme, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission, will take place in two sessions, October 2023 and October 2024.