When he joined the Catholic Church Extension Society in 1997, as Catholic Missions, was then known, it was close to its 90th year of serving the Canadian missions. Under Msgr. Formosi's leadership, it was renamed Catholic Missions In Canada, as he said, “to better reflect its mission—serving missions IN Canada.”

He told The Catholic Register in 1997, "I have a great education ahead of me." As president, Msgr. Formosi “followed" the missions, visiting small communities from East to West to North, and spoke about their needs to parishes in Ontario and beyond.

By the end of his term in 2002, Msgr. Formosi had visited most of the 26 mission dioceses whose missions are supported by Catholic Missions In Canada.

A native of Hamilton, Ont., Msgr. Formosi was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Hamilton in 1969. He completed his philosophy and theology studies at Resurrection College in Kitchener and Toronto’s St. Augustine Seminary.

As a young priest, Msgr. Formosi served on the formation team at Resurrection College Seminary in Waterloo, Ont. From 1973 to 1983, he was director of vocations for the Hamilton diocese. He was also actively involved in the renewal movements COR and Cursillo. A member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and Diocesan College of Consultors, he also worked on the Diocesan Ministry to Priests team.

As well, he served on the board of Brant Catholic School Board, St. John College in Brantford, Ont., and St. Augustine’s Seminary.

Msgr. Formosi retired as pastor of St. Dominic parish in 2012 but continued to provide pastoral ministry at Mary Mother of God parish in Oakville, Ont.

There will be visitation at Mary Mother of God Church, 2745 North Ridge Trail, Oakville, Oct. 8, from 6-9 p.m., and on Oct. 9 from 3-9 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton at 11 a.m. Oct. 10.