Some of the 42 Papuans granted protection visas by the Federal Government are expected to attend a Good Friday church service in Melbourne.
The mostly Christian group arrived in Australia by boat in January.
Father Peter Norden, who'll lead the service at St Ignatius church in Richmond, says Good Friday is an appropriate time to consider the asylum seekers' plight.
"The Good Friday service is a story of persecution and oppression.
"The story of Jesus being arrested and tortured under investigation and condemned as an outcast.
"And the West Papuans see themselves as having a similar journey in some ways.
"So there are parallels with the Christian journey," he says.