After leaving Life Issues Institute the icon was then brought to St. Gertrude Parish, which is connected to St. Gertrude’s Priory, a formation house for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. About 400 people came to venerate the Black Madonna, forming long lines formed after the prayer service, which included the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as a reading from Scripture and a homily by Fr. West.
On Saturday morning pro-lifers were greatly encouraged by a visit of the pilgrim icon at two locations where prayer vigils were being conducted for the end to abortion. 
The first location was the Women’s Center in Sharonville, Ohio. The second was the Women’s Center in Kettering, Ohio. Groups of 49 and 58 people, respectively, joined Our Lady in prayer and asked for her intercession. Although it rained intermittently during these visits, the spirits of the prayer warriors were not dampened in the least. We thank these faithful and joyful pro-lifers for their witness to the sanctity of life and for joining the Black Madonna in prayer to end abortion.