Born in Valapad, Thrissur district of Kerala, in 1944, Father Kariattil became a Salesian of Don Bosco in 1964. In 1974, as a youth animator in Calcutta, living in Don Bosco School Park Circus Calcutta Salesian community, Deacon Kariyattil was engaged in youth ministry with high school students.

“A youth leader from college days in Salesian College Sonada, I became an animator of Young Christian Students (YCS) as well as the Leadership Training Service (LTS) students in Calcutta in 1974,” recalls the 82-year-old Kariyattil.

A YCS National Team of Animators member, Kariyattil distinguished himself as a motivational speaker. “Yes, I remember the first youth fest in Don Bosco School Park Circus Calcutta in 1977, initiated by the late Br. Trophy D’Souza, Head of the Department of English at Salesian College Sonada, Darjeeling,” said Kariyattil, the youth-fest director for 13 editions. D’Souza organized the event in Calcutta with the help of Salesian College Sonada Brothers and Kariyattil, then a teacher and youth animator residing in Don Bosco Park Circus.

After his priestly ordination by Jesuit Cardinal Lawrence Picachy of Calcutta in 1978, Kariyattil was appointed youth commission delegate of the Archdiocese and 1978 Chaplain of YCS Calcutta.

As the Calcutta Salesian provincial youth commission delegate, Kariyattil took the youth fest movement to greater heights until the last Youth Fest 1991 was a mega event. Under Kariyattil’s leadership, Youth-Fest Kolkata grew into a mass movement of youth, with zonal events in the four deaneries of the Archdiocese culminating in a day-long event at Don Bosco School Park Circus grounds. It was not merely a cultural explosion of youth expression but preceded by catechetical themes with specific social action following Cardijn’s Review of Life method: “See, Judge, and Act.”

This method, initiated by Joseph Cardijn, a Belgian priest and founder of the Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement, encouraged young people to engage in social action by observing their surroundings (See), reflecting on what they observed in light of Christian teachings (Judge), and taking action to address issues (Act).

Some 20 priests, several religious sisters, and young people participated in the solemn Eucharistic celebration marking the diamond jubilee of his becoming a Salesian of Don Bosco.