Conception Abbey
Conception, Missouri

Tower Topics ~ Winter 2007

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The hands of a potter

by Jessica Walker
photos by Karen Ceckowski

Father Roland Carbone is an artisan through and through. While pursuing his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in painting from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo, a special interest in pottery was piqued. He was fascinated when he would stop by the college’s pottery department and watch students raise pots out of mounds of clay on the throwing wheel.

Fr. Roland at the wheel.

But it was only after being appointed chaplain to Missouri Western State University’s Newman Center in 1980 that he would have the occasion to take his first pottery class. At that time the university offered free classes to senior citizens, and so he decided to seize the opportunity. “I’m always amazed at the way the clay reacts,” Fr. Roland says. “You can’t manipulate it; it tells you what it’s going to do. No two pieces are ever the same.”

Today Father Roland still makes time for his pottery—even though his health makes getting around a little harder. Toward the end of the fall semester, he gave a presentation to some of the seminarians. “They were in awe of the demonstration,” he said. No doubt they were able to observe from the elderly monk that this is more than a hobby of his—it’s a passion. Not only that, but it is salutary as well. Fr. Roland was quick to say, “It makes me feel good.”

A collection of Fr. Roland's pottery.

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