By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The 39th Annual March For Life is taking place in the nation’s capital on Monday, and for the first time, Archbishop Charles Chaput will lead Philadelphia’s Catholic to the march.

For Archbishop Chaput, there have been many firsts since officially being installed as leader of Philadelphia’s Catholic Church in September. This weekend marks one of them—his leadership of the Philly flock to Washington for the March For Life.

Steve Bozza, Director of the Archdiocese Respect Life Office, says thousands from the area are expected to attend.

“I’m looking at about 4,500 people who are going to go, and that’s not including the people that drive on their own,” Bozza says.

Archbishop Chaput will concelebrate a vigil mass Sunday evening and officiate a 10 a.m. mass on Monday morning for Philadelphians followed by the noon rally and 1 p.m. march.

“We don’t go there to hear our political leaders speak to us. All of us go down so that they hear from us.”