Immediately following his baptism at St. Andrew Parish in Wright, Michael Phelps’ five-year-old daughter, Alexandria, asked him, "Daddy, don’t you know you’re supposed to close your eyes when the water is poured over your head?"

Phelps had wanted to experience the moment with his eyes wide open, for even at a youthful 25, he had traveled a long and sometimes rocky road to becoming Catholic.

With his wife, Mandy, and two daughters – Alexandria and Audrey, 2 – by his side that night of the Easter vigil, Phelps saw through the baptismal waters a firm foundation being set for his family through a shared faith.

"It gives everybody in the family a common bond," he said, adding that Mandy, who was reared Catholic, "really thinks it brought the family closer together."

Born and reared in Dodge City, Phelps, the younger of two boys, didn’t attend church while growing up, and didn’t belong to any particular faith. He went to Dodge City High School, attended Ft. Hays University, and in 2000, married his high school sweetheart.

The marriage would quickly be tested, though, as Phelps was in the midst of a fight against a devastating addiction to drugs and alcohol.

"In December 2000, I hit bottom," he said. "My everyday experience was that I had to have the drugs. It’s so much better now, after going through recovery. That was a couple months after we got married, so it was a real test of our marriage."

It was during this difficult time that Phelps said he was drawn closer to God.

"That started me going to church," he said, adding that his journey led him to other churches along the path. After exploring other faith traditions, both he and his wife decided that the "Catholic Church is where we need to be," and Phelps entered the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process.

"It was really neat because I learned so much," he said. "It wasn’t like I just went in and got baptized. I actually went in and learned about Catholicism….

"The night I was baptized, Father Bob [Schremmer] made it personal for each person. He said that I was getting baptized with a new heart, and that Regan [Weber] was getting baptized with a new spirit."

Besides the two baptisms at the Easter vigil, Kelli Servis received the sacrament of confirmation.

"It was a very emotional time," Phelps added. "Both of my daughters were baptized on Father’s Day a year ago. It brought back some of those memories – our family coming closer together through God."

Looking on proudly that night were his parents, Nadine and Willy, and his brother, Tommy.

Phelps works as a parts specialist for Napa Auto Parts while attending Dodge City Community College part time. He and his brother operate a remote control auto-racing track. In the fourth year of operation, Phelps seemed most proud of the fact that it offers families a night out together. But if you’re thinking of bringing your battery-operated Tonka to the track, Phelps noted that most cars start in the $400 range.

Nearly every weekend, Phelps and Tommy race a bigger car, a Chevy Cruiser — one brother steering, another operating the gas — at tracks in Jetmore and Dodge City, with their dad acting as pit crew.

Despite his busy schedule, Phelps intends to get more involved with the Church.

"I’d like to do the readings — get up in front and be involved. I’m a recovering addict, and I would like to speak to kids about drugs and addiction."

His marriage, recovery, and now rebirth through baptism have indeed given Phelps a new heart, and he intends to use it.