Welcome to DISCERN Institute for Research
on the Signs of the Times

DISCERN 

  • The Institute for Research on the Signs of the Times is a research institute forming part of the Archdiocese of Malta. DISCERN undertakes research on the signs of the times as they appear in Maltese society and the local Church, utilising the tools offered by the social sciences. DISCERN publishes research reports, holds public lectures, and provides the evidence necessary for the ecclesial community to better serve its mission. DISCERN was founded in 1993.

Poverty Watch 2024

The eradication of poverty and the inclusion and support of persons who find themselves in situations of poverty are very important features of the Church’s mission. Discern has been tasked by the Archdiocese of Malta to monitor the situation of poverty in Malta and one of the ways it is doing this is by producing a Poverty Watch report three times yearly. Below you can find the issues for 2024. Read more »

Observatory

On a regular basis, Discern reviews local newspapers and produces bulletins on particular topics based on these reviews. One of the topics is Education, Media and Culture and here you can find the bulletins which were prepared in 2024.

For the full bulletins click here:

Education, Media and Culture January-March 2024

Education, Media and Culture April-June 2024

Education, Media and Culture July-September 2024

Education, Media and Culture October-December 2024 Read more »

Views on Catholicism (2022)

Representations of Catholicism in Malta are diverse and dynamic. This project explored the representations, and language used, vis-à-vis Catholicism(s) in Malta, amongst different demographic groups (based on gender, age, education and regions). This large-scale study involved a range of online one-to-one interviews . For more information: https://journey.church.mt/fehmiet-fuq-il-kattolicizmu-minn-discern/

For the full report click here

Read more »

Presentation by Dr Luke J Buhagiar Round Table Discussion Q&A with the audience and conclusion

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