Robert Béla Wilhelm, Th.D.

I was a war-baby, born  in Manhattan, New York City on December 28, 1943

I was the the first-born child of immigrant parents from Eastern Europe. 

I am a traditional storyteller who first learned my art from... Emilia Sipos, “Nagy Mama”  my Hungarian grandmother. 

She told me stories in both Hungarian and English. 

and Valeria Norisova, “Mommy"my Slovak mother. 

She only told me stories in English.  

My doctorate (Th.D.) is in Storytelling as a Performing Art from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

My Th.D. in "religion and the arts", was awarded with distinction in 1976. 

I have taught pre-school…

elementary school… 

high school youth minstry…

college and university, seminary and continuing professional education.  

I have told stories in almost every American state and Canadian province…

As well as across the globe from Perth, Australia to Budapest, Hungary

in 1994, I created the School of Sacred Storytelling and have graduated over 50 storytellers in an intensive 3-year apprenticeship program. 

I am now retired from the School.

For half a century, my wife, Dr. Mary Jo Kelly Wilhelm and I have led cultural tours, Storyfest Journeys, throughout North America, Hawaii and across Europe. 

We are now both retired.

I am a Byzantine  (Carpatho-Rusyn) Catholic, while my wife is a Roman Catholic.  

We joke together:  

Mary Jo Kelly says 

“I am Irish Catholic”.

Robert Béla Wilhelm replies in Hungarian,

“Görög Katolikus vagyok” 

and in English: "I am a Greek Catholic”.

My theology and spirituality are rooted in the traditions of both the Eastern & Western Christian churches. 

I am an iconographer… 

a hagiographer

a storyteller..

most of all, a teacher… 

a mentor…

a spiritual guide. 

I would enjoy hearing your comments.