He began his studies at the University of Malta, from which he acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (1976), and pursued further studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, from which he acquired a bachelor's degree in Theology (1982).
He also studied at the Centre Sèvres in Paris, France, from which he acquired a master's degree in Theology (1984); at the Loyola University of Chicago, U.S. (1987); and at the University of Oxford, England, from which he acquired a doctorate in Sociology (1990).
He was also the Non-Governmental Maltese Expert on Poverty and Social Inclusion for the European Commission.
For three years he was director of the Institute of Social Welfare at the University of Malta.
Until his premature death on April 4, 2006, at the relatively young age of 52, he was an associate professor of Sociology and Social Policy.