Members of the Knights of Columbus at St. John Bosco Parish in Lakewood recently showed Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain around their parish's memorial garden.

The Knights of Columbus Council #11762 have led the fundraising, work and improvements on the Meditation Park and Gateway to Heaven, which they describe as a living memorial and garden of peace. Archbishop Sartain came for a tour of the garden on April 23.

The park was first dedicated in 1997. The newer Gateway to Heaven is dedicated to the late Father Lee Hightower, former pastor of St. John Bosco Parish in Lakewood and a Knights of Columbus chaplain. Father Hightower used to say summer Masses in the grotto at the garden. 

Knight Jim Senko, who played a key role in the garden's development, wrote in a letter that he feels Father Hightower's presence whenever he walks through the iron arch.

For me, the Meditation Park is a spiritual adventure where I can talk to God, his Son and his Mother Mary for direction and receive love back, he said.