November 19, 2025

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
Contributing Writer

Khristina Heffernan has blessed the North Country with her musical talents for years.

“When I was a kid, I grew up at the (Plattsburgh) airbase,” Heffernan reflected. “People knew I played the piano, and I started playing the flute.”

Heffernan was quickly enlisted to perform and continues to play at various churches. She often cantors at Masses and has even taught herself how to play the organ.

“When I play, I feel God’s presence,” she said. “When I heard a choir once, it was an electrifying experience. I feel like God is over my shoulder. I have sometimes heard the whole church erupt!”

Heffernan said George Shnob, who was the choir director and organist at St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh for years, inspired her to play music, and she grew in her abilities from working with him. Heffernan and Shnob used to play duets on the piano and organ. He would play the organ and she the piano alternately; he would know which key she would switch to.

Lita Kelly Paczak has also been influential in Heffernan’s life and was her confirmation sponsor. When Heffernan was confirmed at the airbase chapel, she played “Ave Maria” on the piano and Paczak sang.

“That’s when faith became more alive and personal for me,” shared Heffernan.

“When I began to teach music in 1989 at St. John’s Academy, Khristina Heffernan was one of my eighth-grade students,” said Paczak. “St. John’s Academy only had Pre-K to the eighth grade. When I taught them songs to enjoy, hymns for our Masses and what they needed to learn for Christmas and spring concerts, Khristina came to be with me at the end of many days. She and I talked about good ways to sing songs and perform fine. She did what I taught her, and could let me know that she was learning how to play a piano.”

The teacher said her student eventually started assisting with performances.

“Getting very talented, it was my pleasure to see and hear her playing excellently,” continued Paczak. “I played my guitar and was able to have piano performers play along with me at our concerts. Eventually, Khristina went to high school, and I let her know that I couldn’t have a former pianist help me at our St. John’s Academy’s Christmas concert, and she and I both chose for her to do it. What she did was so very good, and I still enjoy remembering that she helped us every time we needed her.”

Paczak became a close friend and mentor to Heffernan. Along her faith journey, Heffernan suffered from a serious health ailment, and a priest gave her the anointing of the sick.

“God saved my life,” Heffernan recalled.

While it was music that brought Heffernan and Paczak together, their friendship extended outside of it.

“Lita stuck by me through a lot of bad times and good,” Heffernan said. “One bad time is she went with me and my mother to Boston Children’s hospital on October 19, 2020. I was born with a heart defect and was due for surgery. It meant a lot that she went. The support meant a lot to me and my family. Not only has she surprised and supported me through my health, she supported me throughout my own music career by coming to concerts mostly . . . . She has helped me so much.”

“Being in touch with each other even since then, I still have enjoyed finding many excellent copies of music that she collected for me and gave them to me to understand what she was performing,” added Paczak. “Khristina also, very kindly, has given me videos of Masses that she was doing as she worked many years at Churches. I went to precious Masses that she was doing, being able to love the hymns that taught us all what served Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Words. Her sharing what our Loving God has taught her helps all of us, too.”

Heffernan likes to help out in churches wherever she can play, and has played in several around the North Country before.

“I am grateful to be home,” said Heffernan, who is currently helping with the music ministry at St. Peter’s, mostly playing the flute. When needed, she also fills in playing piano at the 5:15 p.m. Mass at St. John’s.

Recently, Heffernan played the organ during the Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration with Solemn Exposition at the Eastern Region Commissioned Lay Ministry Year of Hope Pilgrimage at St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh. Also, she played the flute at the Marriage Jubilee Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. And, she performed at the “The Look, Feel & Sound of Hope” art and music celebration at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, both singing and playing the flute.

Heffernan has previously recorded music, and “Holy is His Name” is Heffernan’s favorite hymn. Presently, she performs in a symphonic band at SUNY Plattsburgh and sings in Champlain Valley Voices.

Additionally, Heffernan comes from a close-knit family. She has a brother who has a young daughter, and a sister with four children. She tries to help out with her nieces and nephew whenever she can.

Some fun facts about Heffernan: Her patron saint is St. Jude. She also enjoys reading and photography. Her favorite musicians include the Piano Guys, Celine Dion, and John Michael Talbot.

For those who are interested in music, Heffernan’s advice is: “Go for it! Have a back-up plan but go for it. Talk to a music teacher or someone who plays.”

As far as future plans, Heffernan related, “I would like to continue to play the flute at St. Peter’s. I know I will go along with whatever God plans and throws at me.”