Rev. Dr. Samuel Kattukalil was born in Kadamanitta village of Pathanamthitta District. He did his schooling in the Government High School, Kadamanitta and his pre-degree course in Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. He was trained for priesthood at the St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye. Later he took his BA in Malayalam Literature from the University College, Trivandrum and his MA in Malayalam Language and Literature from the Kerala University Campus at Karyavattom. He was awarded Ph.D in
1995 for his doctoral thesis on Malayalam poetry. His research was guided by
Dr. D.Benjamin. Rev. Dr. Kattukallil has also undergone training in ecumenism at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem in Israel. He was Vice Rector of the St Aloysius Minor Seminary, Trivandrum from 1978 till 1985.

Rev. Dr. Kattukallil joined Mar Ivanios College as Lecturer in Malayalam in 1985. He served as the Bursar of the college from 1985 till 1995. He was the Principal of
St. John’s College, Anchal for six years from 2000. He served on many academic bodies including the Board of Studies of the University of Kerala, the Academic Council of the Shri Sankara Sanskrit University, Kalady and the State Literacy Mission.

A prolific writer, Rev. Dr. Kattukallil has to his credit many published works including Karutha Chiriyude Kavi on the poems of Dr. Ayyappa Pannickar and Prakashathinte Utsavam a selection of his reflections on life broadcast from All India Radio, Trivandrum.. He has edited two anthologies on the life and vision of the late Archbishop Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios who ordained him in December 1978. The books are titled Dhanya Jeevitham and Visvasavum Vikasanavum. He is a regular contributor to the print media and has broadcast numerous talks. He was the Chief Editor of the Christhava Kahalam monthly published by the Archdiocese of Trivandrum and Editor of the Preshitha Keralam magazine. His sermons and inspirational addresses have been carried by TV Channels as well.

Rev. Dr. Kattukallil has travelled extensively over Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.