Some 15 people, including seven adults, will be baptized in a parish church in Co Kerry during tonight's Easter Vigil ceremony.
The 15 include 13 Nigerians, a man from Russia and an English woman who has been living in Tralee for some years.
The parish priest of Tralee, Mgr Dan O'Riordan, said the event was "hugely significant in the life of the parish", and there was great excitement and expectation. The process of preparation had begun over a year ago in some cases.
All had been familiar with Christianity but were not Catholic, explained Father Padraig Walsh, of St John's parish church, where the baptisms take place at 9 p.m. tonight.
One of the Nigerian men to be baptized said while he attended Christian ceremonies, he had not been a member of a church previously.
Being a full member of the church in Tralee would "make a difference" to his life, he felt.
The ceremony will involve a wetting of the head, although there will not be a full immersion as in other countries, Father Walsh said. The Paschal fire would be lit indoors in St John's and there was light and darkness and "an upbeat feeling".
Holy Saturday night was a beautiful ceremony. "There's a fantastic richness about the Easter celebrations," he said, and the baptisms would add greatly to the vigil.
Already, a number of different nationalities were very involved with the church - including singers from the Philippines and readers from Nigeria.
The big challenge facing the church was accommodating those who had drifted and wished to return and renew their faith, Father Walsh said.
An estimated 90 different nationalities now live in Kerry.