How do you get to Nightfever? Check out the map below.
Inviting
We want to share the amazing experience of God’s love and presence with those, who do not know them yet. Thus we invite people, who are on their way to the movies, a concert or a pub, to come into the church and to stay in the church for a short while and to let themselves be moved by the presence of God.
Of course, this is completely non-committing and without any responsibilities or obligations.
Are you looking for a more regular opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration in Victoria? Check out your Catholic Students' Association weekly events HERE.
Nightfever
† When is Nightfever?
Our next Nightfever will be on October 20th at St. Andrew's Cathedral.
The most recent Nightfever was on August 19, 2017. The first Nightfever in Victoria was on February 2nd, 2013, at St. Andrew's Cathedral. All have been big successes.
You can check out some photos from the first Nightfever using the Slideshow feature to the right. Stay tuned to this website for the date of the next Nightfever in Victoria!
† What is Nightfever?
For some, this will be their first time in a church, others may not have been in a church in years. For all, this blessed night has the potential to be a life-changing experience.
† Elements of Nightfever
Lighting Candles
We invite passers-by, young and old, to come into the Cathedral for a few minutes, to light a candle and to put it in front of the altar, in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Even when these people leave, their candles burn on as a symbol of their concerns and thoughts. Within the dark church those candles bring light and shine forth hope and faith in God. They also create the special atmosphere of Nightfever.
Prayer
Prayer is the center of Nightfever. We come together in front of the altar in order to adore Jesus in the form of the Eucharist. Adoration means talking to and with Jesus, to enter into a relationship with Him.
We do not have to pretend or disguise ourselves for Jesus, we do not need a special technique in order to pray properly and we certainly do not need to be accomplished individuals. We may talk to Jesus just as we are, about everything that makes us happy or depresses us. Even if our thoughts are chaotic and unstructured, this time of silence can help us to gain a clear and peaceful mind again.
Singing and music
Songs and instrumental music also contribute to the atmosphere of Nightfever and can give inspiration to the faithful, to the praying individual. The music helps us to enter into a conversation with God. In between songs we also listen to psalms which are the oldest songs of the Bible. We also listen to short prayers.
Scriptural Passages
On the steps in front of the altar you can find baskets with scriptural passages. You are invited to take one for yourself. Often the drawn passage fits perfectly to our life, almost like it was meant especially for us. They can give us inspiration for our prayer, for our conversation with God.
Conversation and Reconciliation
Many things concern and occupy us in our lives. Oftentimes a conversation can help us to find an orientation again. During the Nightfever evening, Catholic priests sit at the sides of the church. They are there for these conversations. They listen, give advice and are absolutely close-mouthed and discreet.
You also have the possibility of receiving the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) to experience the liberation from many burdens. In the Sacrament of Penance, Jesus gives us his love and mercy. The liberation from the burden of sin enables us to happily start anew and to continue on our path to God.
Blessings
The priest can also give you a blessing. For these blessings the priest puts his hands on the head of the visitor. This action can be an amazing opportunity to feel God's presence. In the blessing we can experience God as the one who is present in our lives. God himself is the origin and guarantor of this blessing.
Prayer request
Besides praying for oneself, there also is the possibility of letting someone pray for you and for certain concerns and requests. These requests one can write on a piece of paper and put it into a box which is also placed near the Blessed Sacrament. A religious community are then going to privately pray for your concerns.
Above video: The first Nightfever in Canada was in Halifax, Nova Scotia (2012).
Beginnings
Nightfever started in October 2005, shortly after the 20th World Youth Day in Cologne, with one million young Catholics from all around the world, had ended. Throughout these days, the cities of Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf were then filled with young people singing and praying day and night. And churches were still full even after midnight. The church is young, and its young spirit could be experienced here.
But then things seemed to go back to normal only a few weeks later: the young people were at home, and the churches quite empty again. This was when two students from Bonn realized: "This cannot be the end. This great spirit of World Youth Day has to go on in our daily lives!"
And it was then when Andreas Süß (today a Chaplain in Düsseldorf-Garath) and Katharina Fassler (Emmanuel Community, now married and mother of two children) planned the first Nightfever in St. Remigius Bonn.
The whole concept is based on the Evening of Joy of the Emmanuel Community. But the evenings of Nightfever are not run by a particular group or community, but by students from various faculties, pupils, professionals, and different communities. Initially, Nightfever was planned as a single event, but its high reputation and popularity has led to Nightfever being run on a regular basis: Nightfever is taking place in over 30 cities in Germany every month, and the event has only recently moved to Canada.
