The service at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on Harbour Street would also pray for the removal of the death penalty, Dean of the Cathedral Father Ron Peters said.

‘‘We also pray that prison systems be opportunities for rehabilitation, [before] welcoming people back into the community,’’ Fr Peters said.

‘‘In this day and age we should not be dealing with crime in terms of execution. 

‘‘We can land people on the moon and we can put the whole of the world’s information on a microchip so we should be able to deal quite differently with crime than in dealing with execution, that’s just barbaric.’’

Fr Peters has made numerous visits to Kerobokan jail in support of other Bali Nine drug mules, including Wollongong’s Martin Stephens.

‘‘In my meeting with him [Stephens] I also met up with Andrew Chan,’’ he said.

‘‘So, there is that sense of being connected with them in this way too.’’

Fr Peters, who worked for 25 years as a school teacher, told the Mercury earlier this year that Chan was an ‘‘ordinary, kickabout guy who was probably just as mischievous as any other kid I’ve taught’’.

Wednesday night’s vigil follows a similar service in February. 

‘‘We had a full church come to that and now with the talk of the imminence of their execution I think it’s important that we have another vigil,’’ Fr Peters said.

The interfaith gathering starts at 7pm.